Conservancy seeks help in acquiring and protecting site near Farmington

The Archaeological Conservancy is raising funds for the acquisition and long-term protection of the Holmes Group archaeological site, a significant Chaco community.

The site is located in San Juan County, northwest of Farmington, New Mexico. Holmes Group is considered one of the largest and most complex of all the Chaco-period occupation sites.

"We are excited about using a different fundraising strategy for this project by crowdfunding through Generosity by Indiegogo, the online non-profit fundraising platform," Jim Walker, Southwest Regional Director of the Archaeological Conservancy.

The organization recently entered into an agreement to acquire the site. In 1981, The Conservancy recognized the significance of the Holmes Group and began negotiating with the owner, who was not interested in selling the ruin, Walker said.

"It is only now that our negotiations with the owner’s children led to an agreement to purchase the site for long term preservation," he said. "The signed agreement marks the 35-year journey by the Conservancy to acquire this significant site and preserve it for posterity.

"The Holmes Group was first recorded by W.H. Holmes in 1875 and again by Nusbaum in 1935. Despite episodes of deplorable looting that have occurred through the years, the site contains large areas of undisturbed cultural material that have the potential to yield important information. A 1984 archaeological survey of the site identified two Great Houses, two possible Great Kivas, two cobble masonry bi-wall structures and an impressive “circular road” or “enhanced areola”, a one-thousand foot diameter earthwork circle enclosing the center of the community."

The 1984 survey identified a total of 127 surface features and structures, Walker said. The Holmes Group is considered to be the “most intact” of all the major La Plata Valley Chaco period occupation sites. Without protection, the site will continue to be in danger of being looted and irreplaceable cultural material will be destroyed, he said. The site is also in the midst of a region of ongoing oil and gas development, and under constant threat of new development.

“This is a unique opportunity to preserve an important Chaco Outlier," Walker said. "Although our understanding of the complex Chaco system has expanded greatly in the last 40 years, significant questions remain unanswered. Establishing the Holmes Group as a permanent archaeological preserve could help future researchers answer some of those questions.

"Using crowdfunding allows us to reach outside of our regular contributors, and involve more people in this great New Mexico preservation project. For the new Indiegogo campaign, The Conservancy has organized contribution amounts into tiers, and each level corresponds with a specific unique benefit. These range from a Conservancy postcard to a very exclusive private tour of the Holmes Group site and more"

The Archaeological Conservancy, established in 1980, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving the best of our nation's remaining archaeological sites. Based in Albuquerque, the Conservancy also operates regional offices in Mississippi, Maryland, Ohio and California. According to information from Walker, the Conservancy is rated a 4 star charity by Charity Navigator. He said the Conservancy has preserved 500 sites across the nation, ranging in age from the earliest habitation sites in North America to a 19th-century frontier army post.